St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-12-22
Ole GaIednnia,t.
CHE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE IN
NEW ENGLAND.
81 NIeholas 6or Deeember.

# Mrs. Hawley, she called her boys,
nd babe them go to the pine woods
nd get the finest, handsomest young
emlock tree that they could find.
sect one that is straight and tall,
Vell- bOughed branches on it, and put
! where you can draw it under the
FOOd shed, after dark" she added.
The boys went to Pine Hill, and
here they picked out the finest young
rec on all the hill, and said, "We will
AXE this one" So, with their hatchets
hey hewed it down and brought it
hfely home the next night when all
Fas dark. And when Roger was qui-
tly sleeping in the adjoining room
hey dragged the tree into the kitchen.
L was too tall, so they took it out
gain and cut off two or three feet at
he base. Then they prOpped it up,
md the curtains being down over the
windows, and blankets being fastened
ver the curtains to prevent any one
boxing in, and the door being dOubly
barred to prevent any one coming in,
hey all went to bed.
Very early the next morning, while
he stars shone on the snow covered
ills,-the same stars that shOne sig
cen hundred years before on the hills
when Christ was born in Bethlehem
he little Puritan mother in New Eng
and arose very softly. She went out
Ind lit the kitchen fire anew from the
lslI covered embers. She fastened
pom the twigs of the tree the gifts she
lad bought in Boston for her boys and
kirl. Then she took as many as TWEEN
" pieces of candle and fixed them upon
he branches. After that, she softly
salled Rupert, Robert and Lucy and
bold them to get up and dress and
|Ome into the kitchen.
Hurrying back, she began, with
pit of a burning stick, to light the can
les. Just as the last one was set
flame, in trooped the three children.
Before they had time to say IA word,
hey were silenced by their mothers
warming.
81 wish to fetch Roger in and wake
i'm up before it," she said. "Keep
till until come back"
The little lad, fast asleep, was lifted
q blanket and gently carried by his
bother into the beautiful presence.
"See Roger, my boy, see!" she
.aid, arOusing him. at is Christmas
hOrning now! In England they only
New England we have a whole Christ
has tree"
go Mother !" he cried. so Lucy
10 all Yes, see! | see! o Moth
sr! it is so beautiful. Were all the
rees OH all the hills lighted up that
.Eay when Christ was born And,
'nOther," he added, clapping his little
Eel,
Ies, the stars did sing when Christ
Ind keep Christmas, too, in heaven. l
now they must, and there will be
good times there"
eyes," said his mother; "there will
De good times there, Roger"
"Then," said the boy, 81 slIan't mind
going, now that I've seen the Christ
mas bOugh. what is that, mother !"
4 What was it that they heard Z The
title OlcOtt home had never before
Beemed to tremble so. There were
laps at the window, there were knocks
at the dOOr-and it was as yet scarcely
the break of day There were voices
blsO, shouting something to somebody.
"Shall l put out the candles, moth
er9" whispered Robert.
the tree | wish we hadn't it," re-
GREETED Rupert; while Lucy chung to
her mothers gown and shrieked with
all her strength, "It's Indiansw
Pale and white and still, ready to
meet her fate stood Mrs. OlcOtt, until,
but of the knocking and the tapping at
her door, her heart caught sound. 1t
was a voice calling, "Rachel! Rachel
Rachel :"
"Unbar the dOOrw she cried back to
her boys. ats your father calling"
Down came the blankets up went
the curtain open flew the door and
in walked Captain OleOtt followed 10y
every man and woman i'll Plymouth
who had heard at break of day the
glorious news that the expected ship
had arrived at Boston, and with it the
lOng-lOst Captain OlcOtt. For an in
stant nothing was thought of except
the joyous welcoming of the captain i'll
his own home.
"What's this What is it7 What
does this mean 7" was asked again and
again, when the first excitement was
past, as the tall young pine stood aloft,
its candles ablaze, its gifts still hang
ing.
"It's welcome home to father J" said
! Lucy, her only thought to screen her
mother.
"NO, child, no! !" sternly spoke Mrs.
DlcOtt. "Tell the truth 7"
"It's-a-Christma tree !" faltered
poor Lucy.
One and another and another, Pill
grims and Puritans all, drew near with
faces stern and forbidding, and gazed
and gazed, until one and another and
yet another softened slowly into a
smile as little Rogers piping voice
sung out:
"She made it for me, mother did
But you may have it now, and all the
pretty things that are on it, too, be-
cause you've brought my father back
again if mother will let yOu," he
added. :
Neither Pilgrim nor Puritan frOwned
at the gift. One man, the sternest
there, broke off IA little twig and said
an take it for the sake of the good
old tinas at hama -